Simon Judge

  • Tesco Autumn Winter Tasting

    Tesco Autumn Winter Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In September 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a Tesco Autumn Winter Tasting event, where I got to look at the exciting changes in their wine selection. Tesco has just completed its most significant update to their wine range in 15 years, introducing 130 new products. Notably, there’s been an increase in the number…

  • Majestic Autumn Winter Tasting

    Majestic Autumn Winter Tasting

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    In September 2024, I attended the Majestic Press Tasting event, which showcased 109 wines from their Autumn/Winter collection. The selection included new arrivals, fine wines and special parcels curated for the upcoming Christmas season. It was a comprehensive display, offering a wide range of styles and price points, as well as Majestic’s recently updated off-the-beaten-track…

  • 25% Off Wine at Tesco

    25% Off Wine at Tesco

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    Simon Judge

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    Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are over £5.50 (£7 in Wales), from 17 September 2024 until 23 September 2024. See the Tesco tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • The Grape Unveiling

    The Grape Unveiling

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    Hallgarten & Novum Wines is one of the UK’s leading specialist wine merchants, boasting over 90 years of experience in the industry. As a renowned wine wholesaler, supplier and importer, they focus on distributing premium wines to the on-trade (hospitality) and off-trade sectors (supermarkets, independents). In September 2024, I attended The Grape Unveiling in London,…

  • Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting

    Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In September 2024, I attended the Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting, an event in London showcasing an impressive array of wines from Hatch Mansfield’s portfolio. This agency focuses on wines crafted by independent, family-owned winemakers. Their portfolio includes well-known names such as Taittinger, C.V.N.E, Villa Maria and Errazuriz. Their wines can be found at many…

  • Villa Maria Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc

    Villa Maria Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc

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    Simon Judge

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    Villa Maria’s Single Vineyard Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc is a standout wine from the eastern coastline of the Awatere Valley, a cooler and windier sub-region of Marlborough, New Zealand. This area is known for its slow-growing season, which allows the grapes to develop an intense concentration and depth of flavour. The 2021 vintage of this wine…

  • Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello

    Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello

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    Simon Judge

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    Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello 2023 is a white wine from Valdeorras in Galicia, Spain. Produced by Bodegas Virgen, which was purchased by CVNE, a notable name in Rioja, back in 2018, this wine reflects the region’s traditional winemaking techniques. The wine has gained recognition, with a solid 91 points from Robert Parker….

  • Viña Pomal 106 Barricas

    Viña Pomal 106 Barricas

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    Viña Pomal, famously associated with Winston Churchill as his reputed bodega of choice, offers its 106 Barricas Rioja Reserva 2019 as a limited edition tribute. The name ‘106’ pays homage, originally in 2010, to the 106th anniversary of the winery’s first harvest in 1904, with only 50,000 bottles produced for this exclusive edition. The wine…

  • Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting

    Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting

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    In September 2024, I attended the Aldi Autumn Winter Press Wine Tasting, where 98 wines were showcased. It was a great opportunity to experience the variety and quality of Aldi’s wine offerings as they continue to establish themselves as a major player in the UK market. In fact, Aldi recently became the third-largest wine retailer,…

  • Rising Corkage Fees to Upwards of £100

    Rising Corkage Fees to Upwards of £100

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    Simon Judge

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    The BBC has reported that Corkage fees, the charges diners pay for bringing their own wine to restaurants, are rising in London as establishments try to maintain profitability. Traditionally around £12 to £15 per bottle, some venues now charge upwards of £100. This increase is driven by inflation and rising costs, such as energy bills…

  • Label Design Influence on Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic Wine

    Label Design Influence on Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    New research ‘healthy = (un)tasty’ intuition concerning colour in organic wine labels explores how the colour of organic wine labels influences consumer perceptions, focusing on the associations with healthiness, tastiness and purchase intentions. The research investigates the effects of red versus green labels on these consumer attitudes. The study confirms that organic labels generally create…

  • Three Domaine Bousquet Malbecs

    Three Domaine Bousquet Malbecs

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    Simon Judge

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    I first came across Domaine Bousquet Malbec at the London Wine Fair, where I singled out Bousquet Gran Malbec, having won a Gold in the Drinks Business Malbec Masters. Here, I explore the winery further, along with its range of sister wines. The Bousquet family, originally from Carcassonne in southern France, have four generations of…

  • Should Rosé Wines Be Darker?

    Should Rosé Wines Be Darker?

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    Simon Judge

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    New research on The effect of rosé wine colours on expected flavour and tastiness explores how different shades of rosé wine influence consumer perceptions, particularly regarding flavour expectations and tastiness. The study involved an experiment with 601 French rosé wine consumers, focusing on five shades of Rosé de Provence wines. It investigated whether slightly darker…

  • Fine Wine Tasting

    Fine Wine Tasting

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    In September 2024, I attended a Fine Wine Evening at my local Majestic in Woking. It was a consumer tasting event, expertly presented by Andrew from Majestic Woking. Andrew, who is soon to move to Majestic Edinburgh, showcased his knowledge throughout the evening, offering insights into the selection of fine wines. The evening began with…

  • Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting

    Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting

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    In early September 2024, I attended a tasting lunch in London hosted by Benjamin Franchetti, the owner of Tenuta di Trinoro, a renowned estate known for its Super-Tuscan wines. The estate was founded by Benjamin’s late father, Andrea Franchetti, who defied expectations by creating a world-class Super-Tuscan from scratch, without any outside help. Although Tenuta…

  • WineGB Trade and Press Tasting

    WineGB Trade and Press Tasting

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    The WineGB Trade and Press Tasting, in early September 2024, offered an impressive selection, showcasing over 300 wines from 80 producers. The event featured individual exhibitor stands, regional vineyard association stands and themed tasting tables. English sparkling wine has reached an exceptional level of quality, frequently rivalling and occasionally surpassing some of the finest Champagnes….

  • Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting

    Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting

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    Swig is an online retailer founded by Robin Davis, 25 years ago, which has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s best independents. They also supply some of the UK’s top restaurants and independents, and in 2021, Decanter Magazine awarded them Best Midsize Online Retailer. In September 2024, I attended the Swig Autumn Portfolio…

  • Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Wine

    Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Wine

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    New research (pdf) looks into how age influences consumer attitudes and their willingness to pay for sustainably produced wine. The research is based on a survey of approximately 2,500 wine consumers across seven countries: the United States, South Africa, Netherlands, Italy, France, Chile and Australia. The study finds that younger consumers, those aged 18 to…

  • Cork vs Screw Cap

    Cork vs Screw Cap

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    Simon Judge

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    There’s a great new in-depth article at Food and Wine on Screw Caps vs Corks. The debate between corks and screw caps in the wine industry revolves around tradition, functionality and consumer perception. Corks, traditionally used in wine bottles, are praised for their ability to help wines age and develop complexity due to their porous…

  • Babylonstoren Sprankel

    Babylonstoren Sprankel

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    Simon Judge

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    The Babylonstoren Sprankel 2018, from the Western Cape, offers an intriguing alternative to traditional Champagne. It’s part of the growing selection of Cap Classique wines from South Africa with over 260 producers and more than 400 different cuvées. South Africa now produces an impressive 11 million bottles annually and the Sprankel is a great example…

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